wn the visceral lymphatics, or lacteals, by the inversion of their
motions.

14. It may be difficult to invent experiments to demonstrate the truth of
this inversion of some branches of the absorbent system, and increased
absorption of others, but the analogy of these vessels to the intestinal
canal, and the symptoms of many diseases, render this opinion more probable
than many other received opinions of the animal oeconomy.

In the above instance, after the yellow excrement was voided, the fluid
ceased to have any smell, and appeared like curdled milk, and then a
thinner fluid, and some mucus, were evacuated; did not these seem to
partake of the chyle, of the mucous fluid from all the cells of the body,
and lastly, of the atmospheric moisture? All these facts may be easily
observed by any one, who takes a brisk purge.

15. Where the stimulus on the stomach, or on some other part of the
intestinal canal, is still more permanent, not only the lacteal vessels,
but the whole canal itself, becomes inverted from its associations: this is
the iliac passion, in which all the fluids mentioned above are thrown up by
the mouth. At this time the valve in the colon, from the inverted motions
of that bowel, and the inverted action of this living valve, does not
prevent the regurgitation of its contents.

The structure of this valve may be represented by a flexile leathern pipe
standing up from the bottom of a vessel of water: its sides collapse by the
pressure of the ambient fluid, as a small part of that fluid passes through
it; but if it has a living power, and by its inverted action keeps itself
open, it becomes like a rigid pipe, and will admit the whole liquid to
pass. See Sect. XXIX. 2. 5.

In this case the patient is averse to drink, from the constant inversion of
the motions of the stomach, and yet many quarts are daily ejected from the
stomach, which at length smell of excrement, and at last seem to be only a
thin mucilaginous or aqueous liquor.

From whence is it possible, that this great quantity of fluid for many
successive days can be supplied, after the cells of the body have given up
their fluids, but from the atmosphere? When the cutaneous branch of
absorbents acts with unnatural strength, it is probable the intestinal
branch has its motions inverted, and thus a fluid is supplied without
entering the arterial system. Could oiling or painting the skin give a
check to this disease?

So when the stomach has its m